Rock That Retro : All About 70s Fashion
Fashion has, in every way possible, evolved throughout history. Aesthetics were means for expression and status across several cultures around the world. If you think about it, couture trends have almost always responded to movements or themes that were relevant to the times. Be it the optimism of La Belle Epoque or the sophisticated ‘New Look’ of the Golden Age of Hollywood, fashion was at the forefront of innovation and progress.
The beginning
The modern era, though propelled by its couture forefathers, saw radical changes in taste. Fashion trends swiftly moved towards diversity and breaking the chains of tradition. The 1960s was a melting pot of social movements which influenced designers to produce younger and bolder clothing.
By that, we mean fashion at this point was experimental. Case in point, many young adults took the ‘Space Age’ and psychedelia as style inspirations. The ‘hippie’ movement developed well into the late 60s and eventually, the 70s where people were inspired to don the iconic bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye prints, and paisley.
The ‘Me’ Era
Individuality was the recurring theme of 70s fashion. Self-expression was at large and played a huge role in how people dressed back then. With mass-market production on the rise, most clothing was uniformed and synthetic. Glam rock and disco elements were favoured by most on top of the classic ‘tight on top, loose on bottom’ ensemble.
Is this the decade you want to relive? Check out our foolproof style guide on how to rock the retro style below:
Get Groovy: 70s fashion with KURVE
You don’t need a time machine to bring back 70s fashion. If you want to give it a try, you must take into account which of the style trends within the decade you want to copy. While the essentials are easy to nail, you might want to narrow down some details. Let KURVE teach you how with this comprehensive style guide!
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Hippie (the Early 70s)
In Frame : Pasta Tank 1.0 in Pistachio and Mocha, Agnes Tank in Pistachio
While the hippie style began in the 60s, the 70s took the movement to a whole new level. The important elements in this style include frayed denim, maxi dresses and skirts, and floral patterns. Bell-bottom or baggy trousers were in trend on top of folk-embroidered or folk-inspired accessories.
Headbands, hats, feathers, and beads were favoured over jewellery. This is due to the focus on more natural elements and materials such as wood and stone. If you feel like the hippie style is more you, get this look by pairing your favourite KURVE top with bell-bottom jeans and a lot of accessories!
Check out how KURVE likes to take things retro-chic here!
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Casual Glamour (the Mid 70s)
In Frame : Dante Tube in Banana and Chuck Crop in Nude.
By the mid-70s, the hippie look started to falter and people leaned towards donning a more casual, laid-back style. Women adorned themselves with sporty, fitted t-shirts with slogans and sweaters. Cardigans and kimonos were worn daily while leather jackets and flannel shirts were slowly rising as staples.
An important factor in this change was the rise in women employment. The workforce demanded uniformed business attire that included midi skirts, blazers, and fitted blouses. More often than not, women wore them everyday with minimal accessories.
Activewear was another fad that became trendy in the middle of the decade. Tracksuits, jumpsuits, crop tops, and tube tops were all the rage! If this is the look for you, take your go-to blazer, your favourite KURVE top, and finish the look with knee-high boots or platform shoes!
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Disco Fever (the Late 70s)
In Frame : Pasta Tank 1.0 in Bare and Dolph Tank in Pistachio
Get your groovy shoes on because the late 70s was all about disco fever! Channel your inner Saturday Night Fever and bring out your flared bottoms! The late 70s was a mix of flamboyant and relaxed styles. Some of the most popular ensembles were wide lapels, bright-coloured tops, jersey wrap dresses.
You don’t need to go the extra mile to pull off this funky look. Halter tops and tube tops were paired with spandex shorts to maximise comfort while on the dance floor. Show off your natural outline by experimenting with form-fitting basics!
Disco fever wasn’t the only trend during the late 70s. Opposite the form-fitting fad was a more relaxed look that highlighted baggy clothing. A favourite combo for the relaxed look was baggy bottoms with tight or folded tops.
Pair your favourite form-fitting KURVE top with your go-to culottes to pull off the ‘relaxed by day, disco by night’ in just one look!
Figured out which 70s style suits you the most? Head on over to KURVE’s official Instagram account for more #KURVERetro inspiration!